The British Asian Trust is pleased to announce that the UK India Business Council has selected The Trust to be its ‘charity of the year’ and all funds raised at their annual gala dinner and other selected events during the course of the year will be donated to a specific charity within the Trust’s portfolio.
The UK India Business Council which is the lead organisation in the promotion of bilateral trade, business and investment between India and the UK and was keen to support a charity in India that embodied innovation, empowerment of women and creation of wealth for the poorest. Mann Deshi Udyogini-a Business School for Rural Women, in Satara, Maharastra (link to charity page), more than met the Council’s criteria. Working in the drought-prone areas of Maharashtra, the school caters for poor, illiterate women to provide an education that enables them to become successful entrepreneurs.
The Prince of Wales commenting on the selection noted, “With this growing level of trade, I am very pleased to learn that there is now a deeper understanding and commitment from businesses to make a positive contribution to the human societies in which they operate. This includes helping to provide sustainable livelihoods in rural and urban communities, as well as responding to the challenges of providing clean water, shelter, health and educational opportunities”.
The UKIBC annual gala dinner marked the first event towards fundraising for the charity. The dinner was attended by over 500 guests including business leaders from India and the UK and the Trust’s Chairman, Manoj Badale spoke at the event.
Commenting on this Sharon Bamford, CEO, UKIBC said, “The UK India Business Council is delighted to be able to support The British Asian Trust through our annual Summit and Gala Dinner. There is a strong desire in the UK to maintain and enhance the links between the two countries, and the wonderful work of The British Asian Trust and other social enterprises working in India is symptomatic of the closeness and vitality of this relationship.”
